The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (8-12) were defeated in the series finale against the Somerset Patriots (11-8) 3-2, on a walk-off single from Justin Pacchioli.
The Patriots got on the board early, putting up a run off Brian Grening in the bottom of the first. Pacchioli singled with one out, moving to scoring position on a walk. Mark Minicozzi followed with a two-out single, bringing Pacchioli across from second to open the scoring.
A pitcher’s duel ensued, with Grening going toe-to-toe with Somerset’s Lucas Irvine. Neither offense could muster a rally until the top of the seventh, when Southern Maryland strung together a pair of hits. Michael Snyder double with one out in the inning, the first man to reach second in the game for the Blue Crabs. Luis Alen followed with a single to center field, but Snyder was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Alen was stranded in scoring position on a groundout to third, ending the inning for Irvine.
After a pair of 1-2-3 innings for each side in the eighth, Irvine headed to the top of the ninth looking for a complete game shutout. He picked up the first out, before Zach Cone clubbed a solo homerun on the first pitch of his at-bat. Irvine was lifted in favor of Dustin Molleken (2-1), who allowed back-to-back singles to the first two batters he saw. Alen came through with a sacrifice fly, scoring Hoes and giving the Blue Crabs their first lead of the game.
Southern Maryland turned the 2-1 lead over to Jesse Beal (5-3), filling in for closer Cody Eppley. Beal allowed a one-out single to Carlos Guzman, before a single from Adam Donachie, with the help of an error, allowed him Guzman to score from first and tie the game. Beal picked up the second out, before intentionally walking Aharon Eggleston. Alfredo Rodriguez followed with an infield single, loading the bases for Pacchioli. After battling to a full count, Pacchioli singled up the middle, scoring pinch-runner Zach Racusin to win the game.
The walk-off was the third of the series for the Patriots, who completed the sweep with their victory. This is just the second time this season that the Blue Crabs have been swept in a series.
The Blue Crabs return to Friday, July 28th for the First-Half Championship Game against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Southern Maryland will send RHP Daryl Thompson (5-5, 4.13) to the mound, trying to clinch a playoff berth. He will matchup with Lancaster’s RHP Brad Bergesen (6-6, 4.03), facing the Blue Crabs for the second time this season. The festivities will begin at 5 P.M., with a pregame block party outside the stadium, with first pitch in the game scheduled for 6:35 P.M. at Regency Furniture Stadium.
For more information on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, or to reserve your seat today for any of the Blue Crabs upcoming home games, please visit our website at somdbluecrabs.com or call us at 301-638-9788.